WNBA names Kaitlin Clark of the league rookie of the year for 2024, but it was not a unanimous decision.
Despite the fact that Clark broke the WNBA single-season assist record, the rookie scoring record and became the first rookie in history to record a triple-double, only 66 of the 67 voters chose her to win the award. The second voter chose the Chicago Sky newbie and Clark’s longtime rival. angel reese,
Reese was a secret contender for the award behind Clarke for the first few months of the season. However, his rookie campaign was cut short after he underwent season-ending wrist surgery following an injury suffered on September 6.
Clark increased his lead in almost every statistical category in the weeks before and after Reese’s season ended. Additionally, she led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time in eight years as the team’s leading scorer.
Reese was only the third-leading scorer on a Chicago Sky team that finished the season with a 13–27 record, third-worst in the league, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky watch during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 1, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
One statistic where Reese held the edge over Clark was in terms of rebounds, having more than twice as many rebounds per game at 13.1 compared to Clark’s 5.7. Reese has the natural height advantage at 6-foot-3, while Clark stands at 6-foot-0.
But Clark, despite lacking height, had the advantage in points with 19.2 against Reese’s 13.6, assists with 8.4 against Reese’s 1.9 and also blocks with 0.7 against Reese’s 0.5.
Like Clark, Reese also broke a historic WNBA single-season record during her rookie year, breaking the single-season record for rebounds with 418 on the year during a game against the Minnesota Lynx on September 2. But unlike Clark, Reese did not set that record until the end of the season. Following Reese’s season-ending surgery, MVP A’Ja Wilson broke Reese’s record in the final week of the season, when Wilson recorded his 419th rebound.
However, despite the statistical discrepancies between Clarke and Reese, the Sky rookie had his share of enthusiastic supporters this year who sided with Clarke.
Former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah, who stood 6 feet 11 inches tall and was also adept at rebounding and dominating the paint, told Fox News Digital that he would vote for Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese. over clark During an interview at NBA Night at the Emirates Suite at the US Open in early September, he asked if he would be up for Rookie of the Year.
Inside Kaitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s impact on men’s basketball
August 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) walks on the court during the first half at Wintrust Arena. (Kamil Krzyzewski-USA TODAY Sports)
“I would say Angel Reese,” Noah said“When I watch her play, she reminds me a lot of myself.”
In head-to-head encounters this year, the Fever defeated Sky three out of four times. In two of those matchups, Reese scored more points than Clark, while having more rebounds than Clark in all four meetings. Clark provided much assistance in all four meetings.
Reese’s height advantage over Clark resulted in the Sky rookie getting strong finishes in the paint, and some very physical blocks and block attempts. Some instances have resulted in some hard fouls being called on Clark for his defense against Reese. In a game on June 16, Clark was going for a layup, and Reese did not have enough wings to block the shot, but he got a dominant 1 point when he hit it over Clark’s head from above.
Reese’s reputation and personality have also gained him an enthusiastic following, although less than Clark’s in terms of attendance and TV viewership.
Rutgers freshman men’s basketball player Ace Bailey, the No. 3 ranked player in the country this year, told Fox News Digital at his team’s media day on September 24 that if possible he would look to Reese instead of Clark for advice. Would like to choose. Talk to a big female basketball star.
“I would probably talk to Angel Reese, his competitiveness definitely keeps him in driving,” Bailey said.
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Angel Reese of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts to Kaitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Maddy Meyer/Getty Images)
Reese and Clark’s reputation, fan base and long-standing rivalry stem from their respective races leading up to their most famous meeting in the 2023 NCAA Women’s National Championship game. Reese and LSU beat Clark and Iowa, and Reese pointed the finger while boasting in a viral moment that received intense reaction and support.
Reese said during the first episode that it was a moment that “changed her life forever”. his podcast She became “Unapologetically Angel” when she accused Clarke’s fans of racism, death threats, and even sending explicit AI images of her to her family members.
“I think it’s really just the fans, his fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, that are really just, they ride for him, and I respectfully respect that. But sometimes it’s just too disrespectful. It happens. I think there are a lot when it comes to racism,” Reese said.
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